Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Once again, I thank the expert panel for their work and their comprehensive report. To reiterate the headline figures, which are stark, 56% of total deaths as a result of Covid-19 occurred in nursing homes. That must point to a systemic failure of the highest degree because behind each of those deaths was a grieving family and the real life of a person who, undoubtedly, had come through hard times in his or her own life and then ended up being failed at his or her end in this State. To contextualise the greater anxieties that were caused to families who also had other members in nursing homes, whether they contracted Covid-19 or not, the restrictions that were in place led to enormous anxiety and fears, some of which have not dissipated.

I also note from the committee's report that there are strikingly high rates in particular regions and counties. The report pinpoints counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath and Longford as having particularly high cumulative incidence rates of death that warrant further examination.

I note also that in the Department of Health's opening statement, if I read it correctly, that there are 39 remaining open clusters. I gather those are in nursing homes, and I seek clarification on that, and that four new clusters in nursing homes have occurred within the past fortnight. My first question to members of the panel is whether they are confident that the lessons have been learned with regard to visitation, the transfer of patients from other health services into nursing homes, the transfer of staff, particularly agency staff, across nursing homes, and the practice of the HSE actively recruiting staff from nursing homes to other areas of the health services?

In terms of all of the internal systemic problems in nursing homes, have lessons been learned to such a degree that we can say with confidence that we will not see a prevalence of deaths occurring in nursing homes over the coming months?